Chapter 5 — Specific Requirements for Various Occupancies

Specific Requirements for

Various Occupancies  

5.1 SCOPE

        The provisions of this chapter shall control the installation of fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangement in low rise buildings of different occupancy groups. The term 'Lowrise Building' shall include all structures which are not taller than 20 m from the finished ground level and do not have more than six floors.

        The fire detection and fire fighting arrangement required for highrise buildings are specified in Appendix D.

5.2        Occupancy A: Residential

 In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for lowrise buildings shall be complied with.

5.2.1        Occupancy A1 : Detached Single Family Dwelling

        Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.

5.2.2        Occupancy  A2 : Flats and Apartments

        Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.

5.2.3        Occupancy A3 : Mess, Boarding House and Hostels

        For buildings upto 2 storey height, fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required. Buildings having 3 floors or above and having floor area less than 300m2 shall not require fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements. But if the floor area of such building is more than 300m2 per floor having central corridor with rooms on both sides, manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be provided along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.2.4        Occupancy A4, : Minimum Standard Housing

        Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.

5.2.5        Occupancy A5 :  Hotels and Lodging Houses

        For building upto 2 storey height, fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required. Buildings having more than 2 floors or having an area of more than 300m2 per floor, shall be provided with manually operated electric fire alarm system. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the authority.

5.3        Occupancy B: Educational

        In addition to the general provisions specified in Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy B shall be complied with.

5.3.1        Educational buildings upto 2 storey height and having less than 100m2 floor area per floor shall not require fixed fire detection and fire fighting arrangements.

5.3.2 Educational buildings having more than 2 storey shall be provided with manually operated electric fire alarm system.

5.3.3 Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.4        Occupancy C: Institutional

 The following provisions shall be complied with for lowrise institutional buildings.

5.4.1        Occupancy  C1 : Institution for Care of Children

        Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.4.2        Occupancy C2 :  Custodial Institution for the Physically Capable

        Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.4.3        Occupancy C3 :  Custodial Institution for the Physically Incapable

        Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be installed. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.5        Occupancy D: Health Care Facilities

 In addition to the general provisions, as detailed under Chapter 4, the following requirements shall be complied with.

5.5.1        Occupancy D1 :  Normal Medical Facilities

        Manually operated electric fire alarm system and/or automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in the duty room, so that the duty personnel receive the fire warning well in advance. Requirements of manual or automatic fire alarm system or both shall be decided and approved by the appropriate authority. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.5.2        Occupancy D2 : Emergency Medical Facilities

        The requirements shall include the installation of manually operated electric fire alarm system and/or automatic fire alarm system as per Sec 5.5.1 above. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.6        Occupancy E: Assembly

        The special requirements for Occupancy E shall include the following.

5.6.1        Occupancy E1 : Large Assembly with Fixed Seats

        All auditorium, corridor, green rooms and canteen attached to assembly buildings shall be fitted with automatic fire alarm system and the performing stage shall preferably be covered by an automatic sprinkler system. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.6.2        Occupancy E2 :  Small Assembly with Fixed Seats

        Shall comply with the requirements laid down in Sec 5.6.1 above.

5.6.3        Occupancy E3 :  Large Assembly without Fixed Seats

 Automatic fire alarm system shall be provided. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.6.4        Occupancy E4 : Small Assembly without Fixed Seats

 Requirements specified in Sec 5.6.3 shall be complied with.

5.6.5        Occupancy E5 :  Sports Facilities

        Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be provided. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.7        Occupancy F: Business and Mercantile

 In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for   Occupancy F shall be complied with.

5.7.1        Occupancy F1 : Offices

i)	Office buildings less than 2 storey high and 500 m2 floor area	No provision required except portable fire extinguishers.
ii)	Office buildings more than 2 storey high or floor area more than 500m2	Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be provided along with portable fire extinguishers
iii)	Other mercantile buildings more than 2 storey high and more than 500m2 in floor area	Automatic fire alarm system required along with portable fire extinguishers.
iv)	Laboratories with precession instruments	Automatic fire alarm system and fixed automatic CO2 fire extinguishing system shall be provided in addition to portable fire extinguishers.
v)	Buildings dealing with flammable liquids	Automatic foam or CO2 or dry chemical   fire extinguishing system required along with portable fire extinguishers.
vi)	Solvent storage in office	Automatic foam or CO2 or dry chemical  fire extinguishing system required along with portable fire extinguishers.
vii)	Computer installation	Automatic fire alarm system and fixed CO2 or fixed vaporising liquid fire extinguishing system required along with portable fire extinguishers.
viii)	Electrical switch board room/sub-station	Automatic fire alarm and/or fixed CO2  or fixed vaporising liquid fire extinguishing system shall be installed along with portable fire extinguishers.
ix)	Space under false ceiling	Automatic fire alarm system  shall be installed.

5.7.2        Occupancy F2 : Small Shops and Markets

i)	Whole sale establishments, warehouses, transport booking establishments	Automatic sprinkler or automatic fire alarm system shall be provided along with portable fire extinguishers.
ii)	Other premises (other than shops, stores, markets etc.)	Automatic fire alarm system shall be provided along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.7.3        Occupancy F3 : Large Shops and Markets

i)	Shopping arcade with central corridors open to sky	Automatic fire alarm system and portable fire extinguishers shall  be provided
ii)	Shopping complex under covered roof with areas more than 500m2  on each floor	Automatic fire alarm and venting system, fixed and portable CO2 fire extinguisher shall be installed. Provision for portable fire pump with relevant accessories and conservance of water shall be provided along with trained personnel.
iii)	Underground shopping complex	Automatic fire alarm, sprinklers and fixed and portable CO2 fire extinguisher shall be installed.

5.7.4        Occupancy F4 : Garages and Petrol Stations

i)	Petrol pump station, automobile garages	Fixed wall hung CO2 or dry chemical fire extinguisher  shall be provided or arrangements shall be made as directed by the authority.
ii)	Aircraft hangars	Foam or dry chemical or CO2 Fire extinguishers shall be installed.

5.7.5        Occupancy F5 : Essential Services

        Automatic fire alarm system and automatic fire sprinkler  shall be provided along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.8        Occupancy G : Industrial

        In addition to the general provision covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy G shall be complied with.

5.8.1        Occupancy G1 :  Low Hazard Industries

 Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be installed along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.8.2        Occupancy G2 :  Moderate Hazard Industries

        a)        Area upto 750 m2 shall be installed with automatic fire alarm system along with portable fire extinguishers.

        b)        Area above 750 m2 shall be fitted with Automatic sprinkler and/or automatic fire alarms system along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.9        Occupancy H: Storage

        In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy H shall be complied with.

5.9.1        Occupancy H1 : Low Fire Risk Storage

        Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be installed. Depending on the type of materials to be stored,  other detection and fire fighting system shall  be provided as per direction of the Authority.

5.9.2        Occupancy  H2 : Moderate Fire Risk Storage

        Automatic fire alarm system shall be installed. Depending on the  type of stored materials other fire detection and fire fighting arrangement shall be provided as per direction of the Authority.

5.10        Occupancy  J:  Hazardous

        In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for the occupancy group shall be complied with.

        All hazardous occupancies shall be installed with Automatic Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System. CO2 or foam or dry  chemical extinguishing system shall be installed as per direction of the Authority.

5.11        Occupancy K: Miscellaneous

 Fire detection and fire fighting arrangements shall be installed as and where directed and approved by the Authority.

Related Appendix

Appendix D Special Requirements of Buildings more than 20 Metre High